Indy signs former League Two defender; Roughnecks bring aboard Barrett

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Friday it had signed defender Joshua Yaro for the 2019 USL Championship season pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Originally drafted in the second overall by the Philadelphia Union in the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, Yaro made 17 appearances totaling 1,326 minutes in his rookie season while helping the club make the MLS playoffs. Overall in his professional career, Yaro has made 41 total appearances between the Union and Bethlehem Steel FC – the Union’s USL Championship affiliate – tallying 3,204 minutes while receiving just four yellow cards. The defender was a Generation Adidas signing, becoming one of seven selections of the 2016 class.

“We are excited to have Joshua join us for the 2019 season,” said SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell. “He is an extremely talented center-back with good one-vs-one defending skills and is very quick. Obviously, he has great experiences with Georgetown and with the Union, so we look forward to having him join us in San Antonio.”

Born in Ghana, Yaro played college soccer at Georgetown University for three seasons from 2013-15. Following his junior and final season with the Hoyas, Yaro was named the Big East Defender of the Year and an NSCAA First-Team All American. The 24-year-old was named the college Player of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com in 2014 following his sophomore season. While in college, Yaro also played for the Baltimore Bohemians in USL League Two.

“This is an organization that has a dream and is working hard to make that dream come true,” said Yaro. “This is a great club with great people that I am excited to work with. I’m looking forward to start working to achieve our goals this season.”

INDY SIGNS ENGLISH DEFENDER KING: Indy Eleven announced on Thursday the signing of defender Macauley King pending league and federation approval.

King, 23, recently finished his collegiate career at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga. In four seasons, the Narborough, England native scored eight goals and 17 assists in 75 appearances. The Englishman earned all-region honors for four consecutive seasons, which include being selected to the NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region first team his senior year. Additionally, King played for USL League Two clubs Mississippi Brilla FC, Charlotte Eagles FC and Sounders FC U23.

“Macauley is a player with a good pedigree. He grew up in Leicester City’s academy and he’s had a lot of success in college over here.” said Indy Eleven Head Coach Martin Rennie. “He’s a solid defender and he’s someone with a lot of potential.”

Prior to his college career, King honed his skills with English Premier League’s Leicester City FC’s youth squad while attending Lutterworth College, a secondary school in Lutterworth, England.

ROUGHNECKS BRING IN BARRETT: Tulsa Roughnecks FC announced on Thursday its had signed 26-year-old forward Akeil Barrett, pending league and federation approval.

“Akeil, is a player I know very well from The University of Tulsa. He is an exciting, creative player who fans will enjoy watching,” said Roughnecks General Manager Wayne Farmer. “Despite being young, Akeil has experience in the MLS and USL and is another example of the exciting style of soccer we want to showcase here at the Tulsa Roughnecks.”

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Barrett played college soccer at both the University of Akron and the University of Tulsa. From there he was selected 25th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC before signing with Jacksonville Armada FC. Barrett has also played for Piteå IF, the USL Championship’s Swope Park Rangers, and USL League Two’s Ocean City Nor’easters.

“I am very happy for the opportunity to play in my second home from Jamaica” said Barrett, “I look forward to defending this City, this place means a lot to me.”